SPEIER, DONALD EUGENE, of Houston TX, joined his beloved wife, Nellie Mae Browning Speier, on November 26, 2011.
The only child of John Dietrich Speier and Mary Anita Richardson Speier, Don was born on May 20, 1923 in Louisville. Upon his graduation from St. Xavier High School, he was hired by DuPont and began a career that lasted 47 years.
On August 26, 1942 Don married Nellie Mae. Shortly thereafter, Don enlisted in the Marine Corps, serving in the Pacific theater until his honorable discharge in September 1945.
Upon returning to his hometown, with one child and another on the way, Don resumed his career at DuPont in the laboratory. In 1956, the family of now seven, was transferred to the Montague Works in Michigan to start up a new DuPont Neoprene manufacturing plant. In 1971 he and Nellie Mae were transferred to Beaumont, TX, where as safety superintendent he set new company safety performance records. In November 1981 he joined the Applied Technology Group of DuPont corporate headquarters in Wilmington, DE. Don officially retired from the company on November 1983 with 42 years of service, but continued consulting for DuPont and other clients until 1987. His work took him on 47 visits to 13 countries, training other manufacturers in DuPont's well known safety program.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife of 58 years, Nellie Mae who died November 5, 2000; and daughter-in-law, Linda Speier.
He is survived by his five children, Donna (Bob) Bruce of Annapolis, MD, Donald "Skip" Speier II, of Muskegon, MI, Paula (Curt) Green, of Seattle, WA, Steven "Pete" (Debbie) Speier of Newport Beach, CA, and Stacey Speier of Houston. Don also has 12 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
Family will receive friends at Ratterman's Funeral Home, 3800 Bardstown Road, Louisville, from 4-7 p.m. November 30, 2011. A funeral Mass will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 2007 Cherrywood Lane, St. Matthews, at 10 a.m. the following day. He will be buried in Cave Hill Cemetery beside his wife, and near his parents.
Donations in his name may be made to the Alzheimer's Association .Guest Book